A Renfrewshire shipyard worker once wrote a song for international recording artist Dame Gracie Fields.

It was January, 1938, and Arthur Andrew would finish his shift at the yards, go straight home to work as a composer in his Renfrew house.

Mr Andrew, who was employed at Stephen’s Shipbuilding Yard, would begin by writing the lyric, and then composing the melody on his violin.

Next up, he would write the music for the song before parcelling it up and sending it off to his publisher.

It was the most incredible of double lives, but the talented composer had already written several pieces of popular music for well-known entertainers of the period.

Mr Andrew lived at Fifth Avenue, which was set within Victory Gardens in Renfrew, and was a member of the Scott family, one of the oldest in the burgh.

However, the song which so enthused Gracie Fields was called The Angel of Heaven – and it had a beautiful melody.

In fact, that very melody was a popular choice at Mr Andrew’s favourite cinema in Renfrew, where it was played nightly by the house organist.

The composer was a carpenter to trade, but was a much-travelled man, especially for the period.

He had visited the United States on a couple of occasions and received encouragement from no less a person than Leopold Stokowski, the famous British-born American conductor.

Stokowski was best known for his long association with the Philadelphia Orchestra and for his free-hand conducting style which spurned the traditional baton.

The popular Scottish singer and entertainer, Harry Gordon, included a number of Mr Andrew’s songs in his repertoire, while another song, Mamie, was performed regularly on London’s West End.

The Angel of Heaven was a particular favourite of Mr Andrew, though, and was written in waltz time.

A contemporary review suggested it ‘wasn’t a song for dance bands, as it required individual interpretation!’

Miss Fields fell in love with the song the moment she first heard it, and had taken it to a third reading within a matter of weeks.

The very fact that it was used in her popular stage appearances made Mr Andrew a very happy man indeed.

Along with fellow Dame, Vera Lynn, Gracie Fields became the darling of the armed forces during World War II, and was commended by Winston Churchill for the manner in which she helped keep up spirits of serving soldiers and civilians alike.